Vastyan is an account manager and writer for Common Ground, a trade communications firm based in Manheim, PA. He graduated from PSU with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 2008 and, since then, has researched and written about state-of-the-art mechanical systems. He can be reached at cground2@ptd.net.

ARTICLES

For the massive 235,000-sq-ft Merrimack County Nursing Home in New Hampshire, the geothermal source available nearby may not have been the fountain of youth, but it did prove key to the center’s “uber-green” mechanical system retrofit. See how the companies involved brought together 16 wells, over 300 water-to-air heat pumps, and the rest of the 615-ton system to serve this 290-bed facility.

This large complex is welcoming a host of new arrivals, from new boilers and chillers to an
overhaul of its hydronic strategy. Avoiding a whole lot of drilling was one benefit of their new design choice. Balancing first cost, maintenance costs, and the system itself were additional positives for keeping all 225 units comfortable and affordable.

A solar array contributed to putting this insurance headquarters in hot water — in a good way. See how those systems teamed with chiller plant improvements to maintain occupant and computer room productivity.